September 14, 2011

Democrats running for seats on
the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board from Region C are calling for tone and
priority changes on the board. They think the current board members don’t
understand what’s important and they’re getting support from a former U.S.
congressman.

Gregg Lindner, of Chadds Ford
Township, and Kathy Do, of Pennsbury, earned their position on the ballot
through a successful write-in campaign during the primary election this past
spring.

Do said she’s running because
she’s seen a shift in the board’s priorities over the years.

“I believe, absolutely, that
the current board members do consider our children’s education to be a
priority, but I do not believe that they currently believe it to be the highest
priority,” she said in an interview held during a fund-raiser at the home of
Steve and Carolyn Mohr in Pennsbury Township.

Do said the recent school
budget demonstrates how priorities have shifted away from what she thinks is
right.

“This past year, the board had
the option to approve a budget at 1.4 percent [tax increase], the 1.4 percent
increase that was the cap [without the need for a referendum], what most
districts in the state were doing. They chose not to do that. Understandably,
they said let’s stay below the cap,” Do said. “They ended up passing a budget
at 1.1 percent. In order to do that, they had to lay off something like 20
support staff, many people who have worked for the district for years and have
a very valuable role in the district [such as] reading support staff, people
who work to help the teachers.”

She added that shortly after
the layoffs, $800,000 was restored to education in the state budget. The board
could have rehired the people laid off, but didn’t.

Do said the board wants to cut
costs, something she accepts as necessary, but that it must be done in ways
that don’t hurt children.

“The majority of people on the
board are looking at the concerns of people in the district who want to move
away from the educational vision of a person like [recently retired
Superintendent] Sharon Parker…They’re looking to cut back our programs and what
I want to do is to be the voice of the person who always, always, always puts
the children first.”

(Chadds Ford Democratic Party
Chairman Rob Porter said in a recent email message that it was school board
actions that led Parker to retire.)

Do said education must be the
top priority with an emphasis on curriculum changes and new technologies that
could save money in the long run. She would also like to see the district
employ naming rights as a way generate revenue.

“Why can’t our beautiful new
auditorium be named after a reputable local business,” she asked.

Do, a freelance writer and
public policy analyst, wrote a critique of No Child Left Behind — the
challenges and the benefits — with recommendation on how it could be
strengthened for the Rockland County New York legislature. She is also the vice
president of the Unionville-Chadds Ford Education Foundation.

Lindner, the executive vice
president and chief research officer for Arbitron, a media research company,
served on the board temporarily to fill in for Ed Wandersee who moved out of
the district. He served until Frank Murphy defeated him in a special election.
Lindner wants to see a change in tone on the board.

“All the discussions that have
taken place around whether there’s revenue enhancement or whether there are
budget decisions that are being made, some of the areas that I had talked about
previously, when I was on the board briefly, did not ever rise to a discussion
at the board. So, for instance, we talked about naming rights as one manner in
which to get more revenue for the district. That has really not progressed,” he
said.

Lindner, like Do, thinks
current priorities are wrong.

“There’s not been any movement
on [the naming rights idea] in the past two years. Instead, the discussion has
been more around user fees for students…So there’s been a different approach
about how to look for different revenues in the district and I’d like to see a
broader discussion about that.”

Lindner said his business
background makes him ideal for the position.

“I have an understanding of
running large budgets, being somebody who’s run a $70 million business. It’s
given me the opportunity to manage large groups of people, look for how you
bring about consensus in a constructive way to move forward with different
projects. It’s something I believe is not presently on the board and it’s
important to have that kind of view on the board and that’s why I believe that
kind of background from me and with Kathy’s background on the educational
programs makes for a very potent combination of the two of us running for the
positions.”

At least two-dozen people
attended the July 8 fund-raiser, with some wearing buttons reading, “I’m a
parent and I vote.”

Among those supporting Do and
Lindner is former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak.

“I think they understand the
proper balance we have here in America, in our Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
right here, right where school districts really matter,” Sestak said. “We
appreciate rugged individualism. We’d love to have individual opportunity, but
if we don’t balance it with the common wealth, the greater effort of all to
have a fair opportunity, we aren’t going to make it.”

Sestak, a retired admiral,
cited statistics that indicate 40 percent of Americans who are between 20 and
40 years old are functionally illiterate. He told a story of how, as a young
ensign, he dealt with five senior noncommissioned officers — chief petty
officers — only one of whom had graduated from high school. By the end of his
naval career, enlistees did not reach that rank without at least an associate’s
degree.

All three seats form Region C —
made up of Chadds Ford and Pennsbury townships — are up for election. Seeking
re-election are Timotha Trigg and Frank Murphy. Paul Price is stepping down.
Filling out the Republican ticket is Sharon Jones. Murphy is also running as a
Democrat.

Delaware County Republican
Party Chairman Andy Reilly urged Chadds Ford Republicans not to take the
November election for granted. He said Chadds Ford is crucial for party success
countywide.

“If we lose
Chadds Ford, we have some issues,” Reilly said.

He explained
later that the county is changing demographically, with many Philadelphia
Democrats moving into the eastern part of Delaware County.

“From a
demographic and mathematical standpoint, we need to get out every vote we can
and Chadds Ford offsets some of the Democratic strongholds in the county.
There’s no denying that. Chadds Ford has always been a solid, fiscally
conservative Republican community and it’s important for us to get the vote
out.”

He added that
the supervisors have done a good job as evidenced by the fact that the
Democrats have not put up a candidate to run against Keith Klaver for
supervisor.

He also said
the party needs to stay focused.

“We need to
make sure our voters aren’t complacent. They need to understand that there’s a
county race and that county officers really affect the lives of people here in Chadds
Ford.”

During his
speech to the partisan audience, Reilly said he was hungover. He said he had no
alcohol the previous night, but made the mistake of watching President Obama’s
jobs speech the night before. He said the president’s plan is one that would
incur more debt to fund temporary jobs.

Government
doesn’t create jobs, Reilly said, but it can create an environment where
businesses can flourish.

“The
Republican Party puts up candidates who are more qualified and experienced in
dealing with government issues — keeping taxes low and trying to invite a tax
base to come in — and to create an environment in the county where businesses
want to locate and hire local people. We’ve have a history of success in that
regard.”

Colleen Morrone, a Concord Township
supervisor running for Delaware County Council and Nate Nichols, candidate for
Common Pleas, addressed the crowd. Several others, including Delaware County
District Attorney G. Michael Green, running for a Court of Common Pleas
judgeship, also attended.

Chadds Ford Republican leader
Mary Kot said the idea for the breakfast meeting was to provide a venue for
business owners to talk with
supervisors about what they think would help the business climate in the
township.

“We want to help businesses
thrive, especially in this economy. So, it’s to create a friendly
relationship,” she said.

Yet, she acknowledged that the
breakfast meeting had more of a political flavor.

“Yes, that’s standard
procedure,” Kot said. “Any political functions the Republican Party has, the
candidates always come because they want to get as much exposure as possible.

Kot said the local party wants
to know what businesses think would help them, “So we really want businesses to
come to the supervisors and let them know how the supervisors and the
Republican Party can help them.”

Kot also acknowledged that
several businesses in the township have gone under this year, with others on
the brink and the village is getting that “ghost town” look again.

“We’re all
worried about that and that’s why we want to do anything we can to help the
businesses be successful.”

Township tax
collector and Republican committee woman Valerie Hoxter reminded members of the
audience that the Republicans are running three candidates for school board,
Timotha Trigg and Frank Murphy from Chadds Ford and Sharon Jones, from
Pennsbury, and that the party wants help in getting out the vote. She said
Murphy helped to turn around a board that was “dysfunctional.”

The three
Republicans and two Democrats, Kathy Do and Gregg Lindner, are vying for three
seats on the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board from Region C.

The Chadds Ford Historical
Society was forced to adapt to unfavorable weather conditions, but managed to
have its annual Chadds Ford Days celebration without a hitch.

A month of heavy rain that
included a hurricane and two more days of torrential downpours within a week of
the annual fund-raising event caused some concern, but CFHS arranged for
off-site parking and shuttle buses to take visitors to and from dry parking
areas. They also moved the bandstand closer to the barn Visitors’ Center. No
complaints from visitors or performers were reported.

The wet field conditions may
have played a factor in another aspect. There were fewer colonial crafters
exhibiting this year. Those who did attend said they thought the others stayed
away because of the soggy field and the uncertainty of what the weather would
be over the weekend. While it was sunny Saturday, there was a chance of
showers.

Contemporary crafters and
artists showed up in full force, as did local restaurateurs and vendors.

There were a few new
attractions. One was Minnow, the Painting Pony.

Minnow is an 18-year-old
Chincoteague pony, born wild on the Virginia island, but now owned by Iron
Horse Farm in Embreeville.

Minnow paints with the help of
his trainer, Kyley DiLuigi. She
dips the brush in the paint and puts it in Minnow’s mouth, but the pony applies
the paint to canvas. DiLuigi does frequently wipe off the brush handle.

She said she had more
difficulty training Minnow than any other horse she had trained. He also does
other tricks, but he’s billed as the painting pony. One difficulty DiLuigi had
with that training, she said, is that Minnow was afraid of red.

DiLuigi said they sell Minnow’s
paintings with a portion of the proceeds going to animal-related charities such
as the SPCA and the Main Line Animal Rescue.

Another new participant was
11-year-old Liam Jackson, a fifth grade student at Chadds Ford Elementary
School. Liam makes soap and was selling his creations — one mint and one
vanilla — with his mother, local artist Barbara Tlush.

Liam has been making soap since
the age of 6. He said he tried it once and liked the process. In the process,
he’s learned to work with a ledger and calculate taxes.

Liam sells his soap for $1 per
ounce at Pete’s Produce on Route 926, and has sold at the art and garden show
at Pocopson Elementary School. People can also order Liam’s soap by emailing
Tlush at snowpeoplellc@yahoo.com

Sweet Pea is a spayed female 7-month old spaniel mix that is
currently available for adoption at the Chester County SPCA. She was brought to
the shelter because her owner went back to school and realized that Sweet Pea
needed more attention and training then what she was able to give. Sweet Pea is
still a puppy and full of energy, she will need additional training. We believe
that Sweet Pea would do well with children and cats with the proper
introduction. Sweet Pea is now looking for a
responsible care giver who will give her the love and attention she deserves. If you are able to provide Sweet Pea a
home, visit the Chester County SPCA at 1212 Phoenixville Pike in West Goshen or
call 610-692-6113. Sweet Pea’s registration number is 96805383. To meet some of
the other animals available for adoption, visit the shelter or log onto www.ccspca.org.